SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Kirby Smart could only try to fool everyone for so long.

He could talk about how his Georgia team made life difficult for itself Saturday night. He could talk about all of the unnecessary penalties his 15th-ranked Bulldogs committed at Notre Dame Stadium. He could lament a couple of should-have-been interceptions by his secondary.

He could even minimize a mesmerizing one-handed touchdown grab from Terry Godwin by saying that it never would have come to that had Javon Wims not dropped a pass one play earlier.

But then he volunteered one final statement before his press conference ended, thanking the tens of thousands of Georgia fans who turned these historic grounds into Sanford Stadium North. Then he exited the media room and was greeted by his own personal cheering section, with his brother, Karl, wrapping the coach in a bear-hug and lifting him up and down in excitement.